AN INITIATIVE aimed at preventing drownings is being trialled by Life Saving Victoria and Venus Bay Surf Lifesaving Club, with Public Rescue Equipment (PRE) stations installed on the town’s five beaches.
The trial, a first for the State, was officially launched at the club on Sunday.
The stations are designed to support beach users assisting in an emergency and improve emergency response times to prevent fatal incidents.
Reducing the risk of potential rescuers becoming victims themselves is also a key focus.
Former president of Venus Bay Surf Lifesaving Club and a director of Life Saving Victoria, Paul Hoffman was a driving force in making the PRE stations a reality, being the lead for the project.
He explained the January 2021 drowning of a young lady attempting the rescue of two people in trouble at Venus Bay, and its tragic impact, prompted the push for safety measures to prevent such outcomes, the lady being a good swimmer but having no equipment available to aid her rescue effort.
Soon after that incident, the club put together a business case for the installation of community rescue equipment, based on a project near Coffs Harbour.
“We’ve done a lot of risk management, reviewing, trialling and working with triple zero,” Paul said of efforts since, with numerous stakeholders involved, Paul noting the outcome well and truly exceeds what was envisaged in the initial business case.
Each of the stations is fitted with a rescue tube and an emergency call button to contact triple zero, also featuring a guide to helping someone in distress, location codes for emergency service navigation and a QR code for language support and further information.
Venus Bay was chosen for the trial due to its status as a high-risk area for drownings, the decision to proceed with the initiative was made following a comprehensive coastal risk assessment and community consultation with the town’s permanent and part-time residents.
While Life Saving Victoria Head of Research, Evaluation and Insights, Dr Bernadette Matthews sees the PRE stations as an important initiative to reduce drownings, she stressed that not everyone is advised to attempt a rescue.
“You should only use the tube if you are an experienced swimmer in coastal waters,” she advised, urging those who are not strong swimmers to push the call button, quote the emergency marker code, remain on the sand and keep eyes on the person in trouble in the water.
While ideally anyone wanting to swim in the sea would do so between the red and yellow flags at a patrolled beach, Life Saving Victoria recognises unpatrolled locations remain popular.
“This trial ensures emergency support is just a call away and provides accessible safety equipment for those with the skills to use it, helping to reduce risks for both rescuers and those in trouble,” Bernadette said.
She expressed her appreciation to community members who will monitor the PRE stations ensuring everything is in place and in good condition.
Members of the local Wombat Walkers and The Not So Skinny Dippers swimming group are being trained in the use of an app to record specific observations regarding the equipment, ensuring it is kept ready to be used if required.
Bernadette said the equipment is tailored to the remoteness of the location with consideration being given to the types of equipment that would be appropriate in different locations.
Records will be kept of any usage of the emergency buttons at the Venus Bay stations and in what situations that has occurred, helping determine the equipment’s appropriateness to the area.
Bernadette explained that combining the availability of a button to connect to triple zero with a provided rescue tube makes the Venus Bay rescue stations unique in Australia.
The effectiveness of PRE stations will be evaluated during the three-year trial to assess the potential use of such equipment in other high-risk drowning areas across Victoria.